Hunterdon County Library's South County Branch will move from Ringoes to a new location, a commercial strip mid-way between Mount Airy and Lambertville on Route 179 in West Amwell Township.

Freeholder Director Rob Walton reported Tuesday afternoon that Freeholders earlier in the day approved a five-year lease with another five-year option for the property in the “One Mile North” center, about 4 miles south of the current location in the center of Ringoes, East Amwell Township. Other tenants there include Animal Alliance’s Planned Pethood clinic, a custom cycle shop, daycare center and pool shop.

Walton said the rent is $13 a square foot, compared with an amount in the $20s for the current site at the “V” formed by Route 31 and Route 179 (Old York Road).

“The hope is to get into the new location by the end of June,” he said, adding that he would prefer that there be no time when the old location is closed and the new hasn’t opened yet. “I hope whatever interruption is minimal,” if it’s necessary, he said. Library service for the area might be supplement with a bookmobile “or other means,” he said.

The South County branch moved 10 years ago into what at the time was a new building
Last month the landlord put up a sign that the library’s 2,500 square feet was available. The new location is slightly larger than that, Walton said.

The county’s Ringoes lease runs out at the end of April, but county library director Mark Titus said that earlier there is an option to extend the lease a couple of months.